Heath L’Estrange reckons the banter among the Bulls squad off the pitch can only help them on it next season.

Coach Mick Potter has signed six new players ahead of the 2012 campaign, recruiting Elliot Kear, Manase Manuokafoa, Keith Lulia, Jarrod Sammut, Luke Gale and Adrian Purtell.

The latter three recently arrived for pre-season training and, with a little help from their team-mates, have had no problems acclimatising to their new environment.

L’Estrange says a togetherness and unity have been forged by a series of bonding sessions away from the training field.

The popular Aussie hooker said: “It’s good to get everyone here as soon as possible so we can all start gelling and having a few beers together.

“I took Purts out for a little drink the other night, which was good, just to help him to get settled here.

“It’s good for the humour and banter because if you get the little things right off the pitch then everything starts coming right on the pitch.”

Potter’s squad meet for regular social events, such as trips to Nandos, the cinema or simply chewing the fat over coffee.

“We went to see Breaking Dawn the other day,” explained 26-year-old L’Estrange.

“It was a vampire movie, a little love story, which was nice, so we all had a bit of a cuddle!

“But seriously, it was good and a bit of regular bonding can help to get everyone closer together.

“We all go for dinner on Tuesdays and have a coffee. It’s a nice buzz.

“Not everyone can make it every week but when people make the effort to meet up with each other, it’s always good for the team. If it’s a coffee or a meal at Nandos, it’s always good.”

After a disrupted pre-season this time last year, which saw a considerable turnover of players, the Bulls’ squad looks in much better shape this time around.

As only six new faces have arrived for this season, L’Estrange reckons there will be great continuity, creating a tight-knit squad.

“We had a lot of new players last year, which made it a little hard, but now we’re a lot tighter because it’s not such a big, in-and-out squad,” he said.

“We all know what each other can do and we’re trying to better each other.

“We lost a few popular boys but it happens every year and you always get new players come in.”

L’Estrange sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury against St Helens in June, ending his campaign prematurely and dealing a hammer blow to the Bulls.

Yet he is happy with how his rehabilitation is progressing and is hoping to be back in contention for the first pre-season fixture at Castleford on Boxing Day.

He said: “It’s good. I’m doing nearly everything now, not full contact but plenty of ball skills and running.”